The Price of a Roof in Ireland
Grammar: Modals of Obligation
A Level 6 English lesson exploring society.
What's in this lesson
A Level 6 (proficiency) ESL lesson on society, practising modals of obligation. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Price of a Roof in Ireland
For Michael D. Higgins, Ireland's president, the country's housing situation is not a problem to be managed but a moral catastrophe — what he has called, with deliberate repetition, "our great, great, great failure." That verdict has resonated because the numbers behind it are extraordinary. House prices in Ireland now average almost eight times the national wage; in Dublin, the multiple climbs above ten. Between 2012 and 2022, rents rose by 90 per cent while wages grew by just 27. The average monthly rent in Dublin has reached €2,102 — precisely the take-home pay of a newly qualified teacher, spent entirely before a single bill is paid.
Vocabulary
- examination
- expired
- severe
- struck a chord
- from
- in
- into
- to
Grammar
- Must — strong
- Governments must address the eviction crisis immediately. — speaker's strong obligation or logical necessity
- Should — moral duty
- Landlords should not evict tenants without cause. — moral expectation or recommendation
Discussion questions
- Should housing be treated as a basic right or as a commodity?
- Have you ever struggled to find affordable housing?
- Who do you think is most responsible when a city becomes unaffordable?
The Price of a Roof in Ireland
Grammar: Modals of Obligation
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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